Cover Image: If You Give the Puffin a Muffin

If You Give the Puffin a Muffin

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Member Reviews

Update: December 2023
I read this book with my grandchildren, after reading The Angry Little Puffin, and we had a very different take on this story. In the first book, the puffin is angry because everyone thinks he is a penguin, and rightfully so. In this book, he realizes that he is once again, the subject of a book and only because his name rhymes with "muffin". The kids enjoyed it much more this time around and thought the puffin was a hoot. You also learn a bit about puffins, including what they eat. It wasn't quite as good as the first one, but they still enjoyed it. Once again the illustrations were cute and definitely show a lot of emotion. I definitely recommend you read them in order or you might get the wrong idea about this book.

When I first picked up this book, I thought it was simiar to the series of "If you give a Mouse a Cookie" or "If you give a Moose a Muffin", I couldn't have been more wrong. This book is a satire of that series. The Puffin is self-aware, knows he is in a book, and wants nothing to do with it. He is quite upset and offended that you would offer him a muffin, just because it rhymes with puffin, it is not what he eats. If the book is geared to children, it did not appeal to my grandson at all. I did talk about the puffin being angry, why he was angry, how we could tell he was angry or annoyed or whatever, but otherwise, he was not impressed. If it is geared to parents who read to their kids and want some sarcasm, then it is okay. Not sure where it fits or what to rate it.

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I was unable to download and read this book before it expired, so I'm unable to give an honest review of it.

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#IfYouGiveThePuffinAmuffin #NetGalley

This is one angry puffin! He doesn't like muffins nor being in this book.

Love the colorful artwork.


Thanks for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review.

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We absolutely love these books... They never cease to make Finn crack up laughing. He said he loves this one even more than the last.

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I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Talk about a grumpy puffin! This spoof has some fun rhyming text and bright pictures. It was an okay read.

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This is the second Timothy Young book I've read to my daughter. This is the freaking cutest book! I honestly wish it was longer. My daughter is 4 and she asks for this book and his other book, "The Angry Little Puffin", all of the time. It's written just as if the puffin was having a legitimate conversation with the reader. I wish I could speak to Mr. Young and tell him how fantastic he is!

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This book was such a good book. I read it and enjoyed it very much. I highly recommend it to anyone.

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Cute book. Not as cute as the "if you give a pig a pancake" or "if you give a mouse a cookie," but it is still a cute book.

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This one is little bit weird for me. I might need to read the previous book to understand this angry puffin. I do not find it funny or something. But it might be good for children who are learning new words.

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A cute and quite non-sensical book. I loved the storyline and the ending made me laugh. The artwork is amazing. Would love to read more from this author.

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Even though If you Give a Puffin a Muffin wasn’t what I expected it to be, I still had fun reading it. This angry character tries so many ways to get out of this story, and takes readers on a funny journey. Kids will love all the colorful pictures and the ways this Puffin tries to escape another book, and fans of Timothy Young will see references to his other books in this great story.

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Very cute book. Great illustrations. My children loved the humor and the hints of the books by Laura Numeroff. We hope to read the others in the series soon.

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This sequel to The Angry Little Puffin is a spoof on other children’s books including If You Give a Moose a Muffin (and that whole series) and Harold and the Purple Crayon. In the first book the puffin was angry that he kept being mistaken for a penguin; here he’s pissed off that people keep trying to give him a foodstuff just because it rhymes with his species name: “No thank you, puffins don’t eat muffins. ... Puffins eat fish, squid and sand eels”. He then launches a tirade at the author for making him the basis of another story. (Pretty meta for a picture book!) But ultimately this relies on just one pun/joke and is significantly less charming than the original.

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Loved the concept of the book and how it started. I personally wasn't a fan of the ending pulling in the author.

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This book is so cute and simple to read. I am an adult and I laughed. It is about a Puffin who does not want to eat a muffin. Nor does he want to have another book about him. The illustrations are colorful and pleasing and the story will hold any child's interest. This is also a good beginner reader book.
I recieved this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

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The Puffin has returned in his angry mode once more. Young readers will be laughing when they read of the consequences that occur when Puffin is offered a muffin.
What will be especially delightful is when my readers will recognize characters and even scenes they they've seen before. The dialogue and rhyming will also be sure to enhance this reading experience along with the colorful illustrations.

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Schiffer Publishing Ltd. and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of If You Give the Puffin a Muffin. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

If You Give the Puffin a Muffin is a more sarcastic take on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Well illustrated with bright colors and strong lines, young children will be attracted to the look of the pages.

This children's book is the story of a puffin, who refuses to eat a muffin when offered to him. The author goes on to draw from another famous children's book, namely Harold and the Purple Crayon. As the puffin's anger grows, it reminds me of how children act who do not get their own way. Unfortunately, there really is no lesson here for children, no hidden meaning that parents can draw on (no pun intended). Walking away instead of solving problems is not the desired lesson, but parents might use If You Give the Puffin a Muffin as a cautionary tale for their children.

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In a follow-up to The Angry Little Puffin the Puffin is back and he still isn’t happy. When the narrator offers the Puffin a muffin, he kindly says, “No thank you,” and explains that puffins do not eat muffins. However, the narrator keeps pressing and Puffin’s responses go from polite to annoyed. And when Puffin realizes he is in another book without his permission just because puffin and muffin rhyme, he gets angry! He schemes and calls upon friends to get him out of the book. When those attempts don’t work, he confronts the author directly to let him know what he thinks of this story he is in.

With its fantastic illustrations and a main character full of personality and opinions, kids will love If You Give the Puffin a Muffin. It is sure to be a new favorite!

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I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Schiffer Publishing for my unbiased opinion of the book. I loved this book! The story was cute, silly, great graphics, and well thought out. The story is about a Puffin who would never eat a muffin or be in a book. I can't wait to read it to my nieces and nephews.

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I didn't find there was much of a story to this book, but youngsters will find it amusing and the pages are full of bright colours which certainly catches their attention

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